Fatty infiltration of the cervical extensor musculature, cervical sagittal balance, and clinical outcomes: An analysis of operative adult cervical deformity patients.
Publication Title
Journal of clinical neuroscience : official journal of the Neurosurgical Society of Australasia
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-8-2020
Abstract
PURPOSE: To assess preliminary associations between fatty-infiltration (FI) of cervical spine extensor musculature, cervical sagittal balance, and clinical outcomes in cervical deformity (CD) patients.
METHODS: Operative CD patients (C2-C7 Cobb > 10°, CL > 10°, cSVA > 4 cm, or CBVA > 25°) with pre-operative (BL) MRIs and 1-year (1Y) post-operative MRIs or CTs were assessed for fatty-infiltration of cervical extensor musculature, using dedicated imaging software at each C2-C7 intervertebral level and the apex of deformity (apex). FI was gauged as a ratio of fat-free-muscle-cross-sectional-area (FCSA) over total-muscle-CSA (TCSA), with lower ratio values indicating greater FI. BL-1Y associations between FI, sagittal alignment, and clinical outcomes were assessed using appropriate parametric and non-parametric tests.
RESULTS: 22 patients were included (Age 59.22, 71.4%F, BMI 29.2, CCI:0.75, Frailty: 0.43). BL deformity presentation: TS-CL: 29.0°, C2-C7 Sagittal Cobb:-1.6°, cSVA:30.4 mm. No correlations were observed between BL fatty-infiltration, sagittal alignment, frailty, or clinical outcomes (p > 0.05). Following surgical correction, C2-C7 (BL: 0.59 vs 1Y:0.67, p = 0.005) and apex (BL: 0.59 vs. 1Y: 0.66, p = 0.33) fatty-infiltration decreased. Achievement of lordotic curvature correlated with C2-C7 fatty infiltration reduction (R
CONCLUSIONS: Deformity correction and sagittal balance appear to influence the reestablishment of cervical muscle tone from C2-C7 and reduction of back pain for severely frail CD patients. This analysis helps to understand cervical extensor musculature's role amongst CD patients.
Area of Special Interest
Neurosciences (Brain & Spine)
Area of Special Interest
Orthopedics & Sports Medicine
Specialty/Research Institute
Neurosciences
Specialty/Research Institute
Orthopedics
